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Effects of post-harvest treatments on high-elevation forests in the North Cascade Range, Washington

Journal of Ecosystems and Management

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Title Effects of post-harvest treatments on high-elevation forests in the North Cascade Range, Washington
 
Creator Elman, Ella
Peterson, David L.
 
Subject Abies amabilis, Cascade Range, high-elevation forest, overstorey, Tsuga heterophylla, understorey
 
Description We studied the effects of post-harvest treatments on regeneration and forest composition 13–27 years following harvest in high-elevation forests of the North Cascade Range, Washington. Eighteen sites encompassing three common post-harvest treatments were examined at elevations ranging from 830 m to 1460 m. Treatments included: (1) sites broadcast burned and planted with Abies amabilis or Abies procera; (2) unburned sites seeded with A. amabilis or A. procera; and (3) unburned sites mostly planted with A. amabilis. Overstorey and understorey species composition was determined and compared to agency records of mature forest stands in the area. Burned-planted sites contained a smaller proportion of A. amabilis than unburned sites. Burned sites also contained less advance regeneration than unburned sites. Two understorey vegetation communities were segregated by elevation—an Epilobium angustifolium—Rubus spp. community dominated lower-elevation sites, and a Vaccinium spp. community dominated higher-elevation sites. To date, widespread planting and seeding of A. amabilis have not had significant effects on overstorey species composition, although future stand composition is difficult to predict. Comparison of understorey composition showed a contrast between shade-tolerant understorey species in mature stands and shade-intolerant pioneer species in clearcut sites. Advance regeneration in these systems may be enhanced by not using fire to treat slash.
 
Publisher Canadian Institute for Studies in Publishing Press
 
Contributor —
 
Date 2005-05-12
 
Type info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Peer-reviewed Article
 
Format application/pdf
 
Identifier http://jem-online.org/index.php/jem/article/view/306
 
Source Journal of Ecosystems and Management; Vol 6, No 1 (2005)
 
Language eng
 
Relation http://jem-online.org/index.php/jem/article/view/306/225